Paul Lesch

President

Paul Lesch (1963), PhD, was the director of the National Audiovisual Centre from 2016 to 2023.
Since September 2023, he has been the 'Commissioner for the Edward Steichen Collections' at the Ministry of Culture. He is the author of several books, including:

• Heim ins Ufa-Reich? NS-Filmpolitik und die Rezeption deutscher Filme in Luxemburg 1933-1944 (WVT, Trier, 2002),
• Au nom de l’ordre public & des bonnes mœurs,
• Contrôle des cinémas et censure de films au Luxembourg 1895-2005 (CNA, Luxembourg, 2005),
• Albert Simon, caricaturiste de l’Escher Tageblatt (Ed. du Phare),
• D’Stater Kinoen (Binsfeld, 2013) et
• Alfred Hitchcock, The Brand (Cinémathèque de la Ville de Luxembourg, 2022)

He is also the director of a documentary film on Perle Mesta, titled Call Her Madam (Samsa, 1997) and curator, respectively co-curator of exhibitions on Hugo Gernsback, Thierry van Werveke, film sets, and Alfred Hitchcock. He is a member of the Governance Council of the University of Luxembourg.
He is a full member of the Grand-Ducal Institute, section Arts and Letters, and a corresponding member of the historical section of the same Institute.
He is also the President of the Board of Directors of Fondation Indépendance.
Since 2001, he has been the chamberlain of H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri.

Alessandra Simonelli

Vice-Présidente

Alessandra Simonelli has been an executive at BIL since 2017 and brings over 25 years of experience in the banking sector.

A specialist in products, customer journey, marketing, and distribution, she has distinguished herself in the retail field.

Since 2020, she has been leading BIL's ESG strategy as Head of Sustainability, implementing sustainable practices and promoting responsible initiatives.

As Vice Chair of the Board, Alessandra ensures that the projects supported by the Foundation align with BIL's values and ambitions.

Commitment to local communities is a fundamental pillar of the bank's sustainable development strategy, and the Independence Foundation plays a key role in fulfilling this commitment.

Carole Lorang

Graduating in performing arts from the National Superior Institute of Performing Arts and Broadcasting Techniques (INSAS) in Brussels, she co-founded the Grand Boube Company in 2007 and has directed over thirty productions, many of which have toured internationally in prestigious theaters such as the Bouffes du Nord in Paris and the National Theater of Brittany in Rennes.

Since March 2018, she has served as the director of the Esch Theater and previously held the position of president of the Federation of Performing Arts.

She has also taught drama and diction in various institutions, including the Conservatory of the North and the music school of Differdange.

Alongside her theatrical career, she obtained a certificate as a practitioner in sophrology. Her latest work, "Their Children After Them," created as part of Esch 2022, is an adaptation of the novel by Nicolas Mathieu, demonstrating her commitment to contemporary creation and her influence in the Francophone theatrical landscape.

Nathalie Becker

Trained at the Faculty of Human Sciences in Dijon and holding a Master's degree in History, Theory, and Practice of Visual Arts, Nathalie arrived in Luxembourg in 2000.

A tour guide at the two museums of the City of Luxembourg, and then at the MNAHA, she has also been involved with the Artistic Circle of Luxembourg and during the various editions of Luxembourg Art Week.

Director of the Schlassgoart Gallery since 2019, she joined the Culture Department of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette in 2024.

She is passionate about cultural mediation and art criticism, possessing solid experience in managing museum and artistic projects.

A confirmed speaker and author of several monographs, she is recognized for her significant contributions to art criticism and the analysis of contemporary cultural dynamics.

Through her innovative approach, Nathalie Becker stands out for her ability to bring the public closer to art, making sometimes complex works and artistic concepts accessible.

She favors an immersive and educational approach in her projects, aiming to create a dialogue between art, artists, and society.

Nathalie Jacoby

Nathalie Jacoby studied German and English literature at the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg and obtained a doctorate in German literature in 2000.

In 1996, she was a visiting professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and worked, from 2000 to 2009, in the field of artistic and cultural mediation in the United Kingdom.

Upon returning to Luxembourg, she dedicated herself to teaching and became a German professor.

Since 2015, she has also worked as a research collaborator at the National Literature Centre.

She has been leading the CNL since 2020 and dedicates most of her work and publications to the didactics of literature and contemporary literature in Luxembourg.

Georges Hengschen

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Anouk-Wies

With a degree in arts and cultural management, Anouk Wies is a facilitator and curator who has worked internationally and has shaped Cercle Cité's program for over a decade as the artistic director for the Ville de Luxembourg.

Anouk Wies started a new position as Strategic Advisor Cultural Affairs at the University of Luxembourg in 2022, where she initiates and supports diverse cultural projects and develops a network of national and international cultural institutions and workers, as well as other strategic partners.

She seeks to foster interdisciplinary projects, supporting arts and creativity as a means to connect ideas and people.